Big names, big games.

Sunday, April 02, 2000

Big names, big games. The rosters of this Friday’s Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game reads like a who’s who.

The doubleheader at Shawnee State University will tip off at 6 p.m. with the girls game followed by the boys at 8 p.m. Admission is $8.

Local stars for the girls include Rock Hill’s Michelle Matkins, a first team all-district player and second team All-Ohio, and Chesapeake’s Kati Fuller, first team all-district and third team All-Ohio.

Other top players for the Ohio girls are Mandy Goin of Warren, Kelly West of Alexander, Teresa Campbell of Waverly, Cassie Hackworth of Piketon, Lindsay VanDeuson of South Webster, and Valerie King of Washington Court House.

For the boys, Oak Hill’s Nick Donley, Gallipolis’ Cody Lane, and Lucasville Valley’s Nolan Crabtree are on the Ohio team.

One of the top players in the game will be Romain Sato, a 6-foot-5 star from Dayton Christian who has signed with Xavier.

Sato was the Player of the Year and in one game this season hit seven 3-pointers along with eight dunks.

Sam Smith, also 6-5, out of Worthington Christian and headed to Dayton, will join Sato on the Ohio team.

Others include 6-4 Dwayne Brayles of Canton McKinley who will play at James Madison, 6-5 Javion Harris of Alliance who was signed by Ohio University, 6-2 David Kalb of Wyanford who is going to Akron, and Bowling Green’s 6-7 Josh Almanson who will stay home and play at Bowling Green University.

Josh Helm of Grove City, a 6-5 senior, was the AP Div. I Player of the Year. He is still deciding on a Div. I school to attend.

James Watts of Bellaire is a 5-9 guard who was the coaches pick as Player of the Year in Div. III.

Ohio’s coaches are Rick Van Matre of Greenfield McClain, Ray Miller of Grove City, and Gary Kellough of Zane Trace.

The Kentucky boys team will feature 6-5 Scott Hundley of Scott County who is the leading candidate to be named Mr. Basketball.

Antwan Barbour, a 6-5 forward from Elizabethtown, was the most valuable player in the state tournament as he scored 78 points in the final two games.

Louisville Ballard’s Cedric Wright, a 6-6 forward, and Mac Wilkenson, a 6-7 center, join the roster along with Boyd County’s Tyler Zornes, Greenup County’s Nathan Sutton and Daniel Griffith, and West Carter’s Casey Lowe.